Chapter 3

Kaelin's POV

Staff members flooded both ends of the hallway, but no one dared step forward.

A nurse quietly tugged at my sleeve, mouthing: "Apologize. Don't mess with her."

I pulled my sleeve free and stood my ground.

Seeing that I wouldn't back down, Zayda raised her hand to slap me across the face. I instantly caught her wrist, hooked my other hand back, and delivered a sharp slap straight to her cheek.

The crisp smack echoed. The entire hallway collectively gasped.

Zayda cradled her face, glaring at me in sheer disbelief.

"You hit me?"

"That was for the mothers whose privacy you violated, for the records you destroyed, and for the innocent staff you scapegoated."

"You are so done!" she shrieked. "I'm going to have Jasper fire you, and I'll notify every clinic in this city. You'll never work in healthcare again!"

"Go ahead. Try."

The calmer I stayed, the more unhinged she became.

"Don't you dare move! When Jasper gets back, I'm going to make you get on your knees and beg for my forgiveness!"

She frantically dialed a video call. When the connection went through, Jasper was sitting at the head of a massive conference table. The projector behind him displayed Veridian’s annual corporate M&A presentation. It was clearly a massive meeting, but the second Zayda saw him, she burst into theatrical sobs.

"Jasper, a new employee just assaulted me! She ruined some files and tried to blame it on me. All I did was remind her of the rules, and she humiliated me in front of everyone!"

She gave me no chance to interrupt.

"You need to come back right now! I never want to see her face again!"

Jasper completely cut off the executive giving the presentation.

"Baby, don't cry. I'm heading back right now. Whoever messed with you is going to pay."

The call ended, and Zayda shot me a triumphant glare.

"Acting pretty tough a minute ago, weren't you? Let's see how long that lasts when he gets here."

She raised her voice to the paralyzed staff. "Drag her to the President's office. I'm going to teach her a lesson myself."

Sterling took a step forward. "Zayda, she's from Headquar—"

"Shut up!" Zayda jabbed a finger at him. "Say one more word for her, and you're getting fired too!"

Sterling tried to speak again, but I cut him off. "Director Boone, don't beg on my behalf. Since Jasper is on his way, I'll happily wait for him in his office."

A couple of sycophantic administrative staff quickly grabbed my arms and hauled me into the President's office.

The moment the door shut, Zayda sank into Jasper's leather chair and sneered. "Scared yet?"

"I was just wondering," I replied flatly, "how a mistress who destroys other people's marriages gets the nerve to act this arrogant in a hospital."

She shot up from the chair. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me. I'm staying right here, and I'll let Jasper explain it to my face."

Zayda's face twisted into absolute malice. "So you're trying to seduce him too. Hold her down. Let's remind her of her place."

Two women pinned my shoulders while another viciously slapped me. I struggled, hitting my head against the corner of the desk. Blood immediately seeped from my forehead, and my arms were scratched red.

"Still waiting for Jasper?" Zayda grabbed a fistful of my hair. "A cheap piece of trash like you thinks you're worthy of a second glance from him?"

She grabbed a paring knife from the fruit platter on the desk and pressed the cold steel against my cheek.

"Since you love seducing other people's men, maybe I should just ruin this pretty face."

The office door banged open.

Jasper marched in with two senior hospital executives. Zayda immediately dropped the knife and threw herself into his arms.

"Jasper, you're finally here! She hit me and said she was going to steal you from me! I was terrified!"

Jasper instinctively wrapped an arm around her, glaring at the floor without even looking at me.

"Security! Throw this psycho out of Haven-Crest. Process her termination immediately, and permanently blacklist her."

I slowly wiped the blood from my forehead and raised my head.

"Jasper, are you absolutely sure you want to fire me?"

The moment his eyes locked onto mine, he turned to stone.

"Kaelin?"